Happy Retirement, Dad!

One day during kindergarden I stood before my classmates and shared my favorite “show and tell” to date: “My dad is a Minnesota Viking.” No, not the Scandinavian seafaring warrior type-viking, but a player on the pro-football team. This expose instigated one of many “May I speak with you?” conversations between Mrs. Webster and I. But you see, I wasn’t lying—not on purpose, anyway. At the time my dad worked nights at UPS. When he came to tuck me in, all suited up in his uniform, I thought he looked precisely like the valiant athletes on TV.

If you caught my earlier post today, you know that in the years since, my dad built a successful career with UPS, contributing to work I find far more admirable than football or fame. In honor of his retirement I decided to share one of the many gifts he’s given me: a love of music. The day he introduced me to John, Paul, George and Ringo, I had four fab friends for life—five, if you count my guitar. ;)

When I hear “Norwegian Wood” I don’t think of its literal meaning but what it means to me and my family…much thanks to Dad. Hope you enjoy this recording—me on vocals, my friend Tom Bishel on guitar—and some assorted family photos.

Oh, dear, another post of yours that made me cry, in a most bittersweet way. I don’t even usually read my horoscope but today I did and it said, “Take stock of your past and indulge in memories that will bring your emotions to the surface.” Your song and pictures of your family did just that. Thank you.

Marty Feldkamp

I have worked with your Dad for six years at UPS. It has been my honor. He does treat everyone with respect and I believe was so successful due to being genuine and honest with everyone. He is one of the few people that I have come across that you can count on to do the right thing every time. He is an all time Great, if not at football, at a much more important game, and that is life. He shared with me your story about your Grandma’s earrings and I can not put on a pair of red earrings with out thinking of you. He is so proud of his family, his wife and your mother, Caroline. I wish that I could meet each of you personally, however, I feel that I have.

I thank you for sharing him with UPS for all of these years and hope each of your enjoy the time that you now have to share.